Picks and Pans: Music

Quick Cuts

WITH JUNE AS THE BIG BRIDAL MONTH, THESE TUNES WILL SET THE MOOD FOR 'I DOS'

1. ETTA JAMES

"At Last"

In 1961 James made that happy ending sound like salvation of the very soul, taking it to a place far deeper and grittier than white gowns and flower girls.

2. AL GREEN

"Let's Stay Together"

This 1972 No. 1 hit is an ode to making it last beyond the big day. If ever there were a song made for doing the two-step during the first dance, this is it.

3. STEVIE WONDER

"You and I"

There are so many Stevie songs you could put here - "Ribbon in the Sky" is another - but this Talking Book beauty really captures the pledge of lovers uniting to become a force far greater than they could ever be alone.

4. ROBERTA FLACK

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

Makes you believe in love at first sight—and finding a face that you'd want to wake up next to for the rest of your life.

5. SADE

"By Your Side"

A declaration of companionship - and friendship - that comforts till death do us part.

Duets albums - on which beloved veterans from Tony Bennett to Lionel Richie remake their own oldies with some famous fans - don't get any better than this all-star jamboree. This John Fogerty love-in, celebrating both his Creedence Clearwater Revival and solo work, boasts a strong country contingent including Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson. Miranda Lambert gets the duet honors for the title tune, but she is upstaged by Tom Morello's blistering guitar solo. Bonus: the new "Mystic Highway," which shows Fogerty can still write great songs.

COMMENTS? WRITE TO CHUCK: chucksreviews@peoplemag.com

KELLY ROWLAND

Congrats on your new U.S. X Factor gig.

I'm so excited! I love Simon [Cowell]—he's a winker, really charming. I think Demi [Lovato] is such a strong woman, and [fellow new judge] Paulina Rubio is so cute! Her accent melts my heart every time.

In your new single "Dirty Laundry," you open up about feeling lost and jealous of Beyoncé's success after Destiny's Child broke up. How did she respond?

She told me, "I've always been here." She said it was an incredible song and she was so proud of me. She and Michelle [Williams] are both very supportive.

What was it like reuniting for the Super Bowl?

Absolutely freakin' wonderful! Rehearsals were the best time, staying up late and goofing around. It was so much fun learning the "Single Ladies" dance.

How is it being Auntie Kelly to Blue Ivy?

I love it. I do want to have a kid when the time comes. But now music is my baby, and my career is my boyfriend!

Will there ever be another Destiny's Child album?

If there was an opportunity and we were all on board, then great. They're my sisters.

Queens of the Stone Age

...Like Clockwork

On their first album since 2007, QOTSA craft a mini epic that shows they're much more than just headbangers. On tracks like the booty-shaking "If I Had a Tail," they bring to mind David Bowie for a new age.

Little Mix

DNA

Like One Direction, these lasses auditioned as solo artists on the U.K. X Factor before forming a group. Unlike 1D, though, Little Mix went on to win in 2011. But on their debut album, they're just passable Spice Girls wannabes.

Quadron

Avalanche

The Danish soul-pop duo of singer Coco O. and multi-instrumentalist/producer Robin Hannibal make a smooth, '90s-spiked cocktail that evokes the cool, jazzy vibes of Sade and Erykah Badu while never eclipsing those greats.

She & Him

Volume 3

The freshness has started to wear off on the third installment of the collaboration between actress Zooey Deschanel and alt-folkie M. Ward. Still, there is a breezy charm to retro ditties like "I Could've Been Your Girl."